Women’s Soccer All-Conference Team And Award Winners Announced

ROCK HILL, SC - Carson-Newman College coach Phil McNamara, who guided the Lady Eagles to the 2008 South Atlantic Conference championship, was named Women's Soccer Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, while freshman goalkeeper Lauren MacKenzie, who led the league in save percentage and shutouts per match, was named Freshman of the Year at the league's awards banquet Thursday night.

Tusculum College's Danielle Tanner, who led the SAC in goals per match and points per match and ranks among the national leaders in both categories, was named Player of the Year.

The Scholar Athlete Award for women's soccer went to Nicole Ferris of Tusculum College, who won for the second year in a row.

Danielle Tanner

Lauren MacKenzie

Nicole Ferris

Phil McNamara

MacKenzie was one of four Carson-Newman players named to the All-Conference first team. Joining MacKenzie on the first team are midfielders Brittany Moore and Katie Perea and defender Melissa Morris. Forward Morgan Gruenfelder and defender Katie Hunter were named to the second team.

Catawba College placed forward Lena Suarez, midfielder Lainey Nichols and defender Alyssa Schoenberg on the All-Conference first team, while midfielder Nikki Blackwelder and goalkeeper Lindsay Webster were named to the second team.

Tanner averaged a league-high 1.11 goals per match and 2.58 points per match and was named to the first team. Tusculum forward Kelly Barron, midfielder Courtney Turner and Ferris, a defender, were named to the second team.

Lenoir-Rhyne also had three All-Conference selections. Forward Laura Linehan and defender Catherine Hauck were named to the first team, while midfielder Audrey Moore was named to the second team.

Wingate University also had three All-Conference honorees. Forward Kerstin Williams was named to the first team, while forward Kelly Adams and defender Madi Welch were named to the second team.

Newberry College had three All-Conference selections. Midfielder Amberly Fowler and defender Elizabeth Jones were both first-team selections. Forward Lauren Carbonell was named to the second team.

Lincoln Memorial University midfielder Becky Thompson and defender Lea Cataggio were both named to the second team.

Mars Hill College's Abby Martin, a forward, and midfielder Misha Price were named to the second team.

The All-Conference teams are selected by the league's head coaches.

The Fair Play Award for women's soccer went to Carson-Newman College. The award goes to the team that demonstrates good sportsmanship in conference play.

Ferris has a 3.87 GPA as a sports management major. She was the 2006 Tusculum Academic Freshman of the Year and is a member of the Aphla Chi Honor Society as well as the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll and SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

She is a three-time selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 4 team and was also named the Tusculum recipient of the 2008 NASPE Major of the Year.

She is a two-time All-Conference selection and is second on the team this year with seven assists. Last year, she was named to the All-Southeast Region team and was named Tusculum's defensive MVP.

In the community, Ferris is a tutor at Tusculum and participates with Nettie Day service projects. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is president of the Physical Education & Sport Studies club and is a volunteer coach for a YMCA youth soccer team.

2008 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND AWARD RECIPIENTS

FIRST TEAM
Forward - Lena Suarez, Catawba
Forward - Laura Linehan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Danielle Tanner, Tusculum
Forward - Kerstin Williams, Wingate
Midfielder - Brittany Moore, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Katie Perea, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Lainey Nichols, Catawba
Midfielder - Amberly Fowler, Newberry
Defender - Melissa Morris, Carson-Newman
Defender - Alyssa Schoenberg, Catawba
Defender - Catherine Hauck, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Elizabeth Jones, Newberry
Goalkeeper - Lauren Mackenzie, Carson-Newman

SECOND TEAM
Forward Morgan Gruenfelder, Carson-Newman
Forward Abby Martin, Mars Hill
Forward Lauren Carbonell, Newberry
Forward Kelly Barron, Tusculum
Forward Kelly Adams, Wingate
Midfielder Nikki Blackwelder, Catawba
Midfielder Audrey Moore, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder Becky Thompson, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder Misha Price, Mars Hill
Midfielder Courtney Turner, Tusculum
Defender Katie Hunter, Carson-Newman
Defender Lea Cataggio, Lincoln Memorial
Defender Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
Defender Madi Welch, Wingate
Goalkeeper Lindsay Webster, Catawba

COACH OF THE YEAR: Phil McNamara, Carson-Newman
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Lauren MacKenzie, Carson-Newman
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Danielle Tanner, Tusculum
SAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
FAIR PLAY AWARD: Carson-Newman

STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS
Goals Per Match - Danielle Tanner, Tusculum - 1.11
Points Per Match - Danielle Tanner, Tusculum - 2.58
Assists Per Match - Kelly Adams, Wingate, - 0.71
Goals Against Average - Kathryn Smith, Wingate, - 0.64
Save Percentage - Lindsay Webster, Catawba, - .836
Shutouts Per Game - Lindsay Webster, Catawba, - 0.38
Team Points Per Match - Tusculum, - 7.89
Team Goals Per Match - Tusculum - 2.79
Team Assists Per Match - Tusculum - 2.32
Team Shutouts Per Match - Wingate, - 0.56
Team Goal Against Average - Wingate - 0.66
Team Winning Percentage - Catawba - .750

Senior Awards
Carrilea Potter, Brevard
Courtney Sofferin, Brevard
Ashley Fincher, Brevard
Jennifer King, Brevard
Katie Perea, Carson Newman
Shea Kinzer, Carson Newman
Megan Julian, Carson Newman
Brittany Moore, Carson Newman
Nikki Blackwelder, Catawba
Paige Harrington, Catawba
Lainey Nichols, Catawba
Alyssa Schoenberg, Catawba
Whitney Cline, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tori Daniels, Lenoir-Rhyne
Debbie Stroupe, Lenoir-Rhyne
Karina Campos, Lincoln Memorial
Courtney Hollis, Lincoln Memorial
Hannah McEwan, Lincoln Memorial
Lea Cataggio, Lincoln Memorial
Hanna-Mari Toivonen, Lincoln Memorial
Alicia Blaha, Mars Hill
Courtney King, Mars Hill
Alex Turner, Mars Hill
Lindsey Collins, Mars Hill
Stefanie Hampton, Mars Hill
Ashleigh Mayer, Newberry
Elizabeth Jones, Newberry
Mandi Butler, Newberry
Lauren Carbonell, Newberry
Najla Bubtana, Newberry
Katelyn Luby, Newberry
Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
Kelly Barron, Tusculum
Danielle Tanner, Tusculum
Heather Craft, Tusculum
Tara Bryant, Tusculum
Danielle Nickles, Wingate
Lisa Service, Wingate
Kathryn Smith, Wingate
Kate Laukhart, Wingate

Women's Soccer Player of the Year Danielle Tanner from Tusculum College receives her award from SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz.

Women's Soccer Freshman of the Year Lauren MacKenzie from Carson-Newman College receives her award from SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz

Women's Soccer Coach of the Year Phil McNamara from Carson-Newman receives his award from SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz.

Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete Nicole Ferris from Tusculum College receives her award from SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz.

Members of the Women's Soccer All-Conference First Team.

Members of the Women's Soccer All-Conference Second Team.

Women's Soccer Statistical Champions, from left: Lindsay Webster, Catawba; Danielle Tanner, Tusculum; Kelly Adams, Wingate; Kathryn Smith, Wingate.

Women's Soccer Players of the Week, from left: Lena Saurez, Catawba; Laura Linehan, Lenoir-Rhyne; Danielle Tanner, Tusculum; Trenna Howell, Carson-Newman; Brittany Moore, Carson-Newman.